Bhutan - Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants

1) Jago Dzong: N27 38 59.99 E91 09 00
2) Yangthe Thuwo Dzong: N27 28 0.00 E89 38 30
3) Taktshang: N27 30 00 E89 20 00
4) Tango: N27 28 00 E89 38 30
5) Gomdra: N27°30' 00 E89 20 00
6) Thujedra: N27 28 00 E89 38 30
7) Draphu Senge gyaltshen: N27 28 00 E89 38 30
8) Tshechudra: N27 55 00 E89 40 59
9) Tsendong dowaphu: N27 30 00 E89 20 00
10) Langthangphu: N27 28 00 E89 38 30
11) Sengyephu: N27 35 28 E89 52 38
12) Gawaphu: N27 35 28 E89 52 38
13) Hungrelkha: N27 35 28 E89 52 38
14) Changkhag: N27 35 28 E89 52 38
15) Wachen: N27 30 00 00 E90 10 00
16) Dodeyna: N27 35 28 E89 52 38

"The Drukpa-Kagyud Buddhist tradition was first introduced to Bhutan in the 13th century by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, who travelled to the southern land (Bhutan) from Ralung, Tibet to propagate the teaching, as prophesized by Tsangpa Gyaray Yeshe Dorji, the founder of Drukpa-Kagyud tradition.

The sites identified and included in this list are the places blessed by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and also centers of the Drukpa-Kagyud School established by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants in the different regions of the western Bhutan. It was from these centers that the influence of the Drukpa-Kagyud School in the region gradually gained strength by prevailing over groups of other Buddhist traditions. Later in the 17th century, these sites took the significant roles becoming strategic footholds during the consolidation and unification of the country under the one rule by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who is believed to be the re-birth of Tsangpa Gyaray and also an emanation of Avalokitesvara.

These sites include the key twelve sites of Phajo Drugom Zhigpo; four Dzongs (fortress), four Drags (cliff) and four Phugs (caves) scattered within Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Gasa districts. Phajo Drugom Zhigpo meditated at these sites to fulfill his wish to salvage sentient beings from sufferings through teaching of Drukpa Kagyud. The story saying that he visited the twelve sites following the visionary instruction by Guru Rinpoche, the great Buddhist saint in the 8th century who is considered as the second Buddha, gives further spiritual importance to the sites. Dzongs and monasteries were built in and around some of these sacred sites by successors of the Drukpa-Kagyud tradition lineage" Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Postcard 1
Tiger's Nest Temple in Bhutan. A horizontal view version - earlier I had received a vertical view postcard of this incredible temple. Two beautiful Bhutan dragon stamps used. Thanks so much to Chris of Cyprus who wrote from Paro, Bhutan, "I have just visited "Tiger's Nest" temple shown on this postcard. Beautiful! I have now been to 157 countries, and Bhutan is definitely number 1."





Postcard 2
Taktshang Monastery is an impressive architecture on a mountain ledge with a drop of 12000 meters below. A big thank you to Christof who was travelling to Bhutan for this pretty postcard.